Parkers Prairie ISD 547

Parkers Prairie ISD 547

Superintendent Saga

September 23, 2022 

Day 39 in District

“Innovation happens when you run into barriers that force you to find a new route.” John Spencer

7 Habits

As part of the implementation of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People training, Ms. Johnson, Mr. Olson, Mr. Lampl, Mr. Bumgarner, and I reviewed Habit 1 “Be Proactive” with the  high school staff.  Habit 1 is based on the principles of  responsibility, choice, accountability, initiative, and resourcefulness. Becoming proactive requires a paradigm shift from “This is just the way things are and there’s not much I can do about it” to a highly effective paradigm of “I am free to choose and am ultimately responsible for my happiness.” 

So after three years of not having to be awake to see the sun rise I am happy to be able to see beautiful sunrises in Parkers Prairie.

Manage

On Monday Ms. Johnson and I met with food service staff to review how breakfast and lunch service is working at high school with changes to menus and new staff. Lunch and breakfast counts seem to be growing and students are enjoying menu changes. Junior high lunch schedules needed to be adjusted due to increased food selections and larger number of students.  Lunch time for 7th and 8th grade was extended and helped to alleviate the problem. 

We collaborated with the city and got the potholes at the south exit from the high school parking lot repaired  this week.

I have learned from Social Schools4EDU that Facebook has changed their algorithm. To increase the reach of the Parkers Prairie ISD #547 Facebook page we need you to Like, Follow, and Share each post! Thanks to all the staff who have been doing a great job of sending in pictures!

I attended the Runestone Area Education District Council Meeting on Thursday morning and continue to learn about the operations of the District and how it provides special education and alternative education services to member districts.

Principals Radtke, Johnson, and I met again Friday to review current concerns and future planning. We will be meeting weekly to keep each other updated.

Planning

We will be doing ALICE training on Wednesday, October 19, 2022. Early dismissal for elementary students at 12:30 p.m. and high school students at 12:45 p.m. Training will be provided in both buildings. ALICE Active Shooter Response Training (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) empowers our people to make good survival decisions should an attack occur. 

On Monday Judy Moeller and I will attend the Ottertail County Collaborative Leadership Meeting. The Collaborative works  to meet the needs of children and families throughout Ottertail County.

Evaluate

I met with new elementary teachers Kayla Briggs (Kindergarten), Hunter Haggenmiller (4th Grade), Samantha Runge ( Elementary Physical Education), and Angie Thorfinnson (Speech) this week. In this time of perceived shortage of teachers the District has hired great ones!  One of my best takeaways from these visits was that the new teachers expressed gratitude for the support and collaboration of their colleagues.  Thank you to the teacher mentors and all staff who make the Parkers Prairie School District a great place to work!

Homecoming week has provided great evidence of school spirit by students and staff. I really liked the color day when it was easy to tell what grade students were in. Congratulations to Homecoming Royalty –  Queen Kasd Wehking and King Ryder Ashbaugh. Good luck to the football team tonight!

Peter E. Haapala, Interim Superintendent

“If we create a culture where every teacher (employee) believes they need to improve, not because they are not good enough but because they can be even better, there is no limit to what we can achieve.” —Dylan Wiliam 

Day 39 in District

“Innovation happens when you run into barriers that force you to find a new route.” John Spencer

7 Habits

As part of the implementation of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People training, Ms. Johnson, Mr. Olson, Mr. Lampl, Mr. Bumgarner, and I reviewed Habit 1 “Be Proactive” with the  high school staff.  Habit 1 is based on the principles of  responsibility, choice, accountability, initiative, and resourcefulness. Becoming proactive requires a paradigm shift from “This is just the way things are and there’s not much I can do about it” to a highly effective paradigm of “I am free to choose and am ultimately responsible for my happiness.” 

So after three years of not having to be awake to see the sun rise I am happy to be able to see beautiful sunrises in Parkers Prairie.

Manage

On Monday Ms. Johnson and I met with food service staff to review how breakfast and lunch service is working at high school with changes to menus and new staff. Lunch and breakfast counts seem to be growing and students are enjoying menu changes. Junior high lunch schedules needed to be adjusted due to increased food selections and larger number of students.  Lunch time for 7th and 8th grade was extended and helped to alleviate the problem. 

We collaborated with the city and got the potholes at the south exit from the high school parking lot repaired  this week.

I have learned from Social Schools4EDU that Facebook has changed their algorithm. To increase the reach of the Parkers Prairie ISD #547 Facebook page we need you to Like, Follow, and Share each post! Thanks to all the staff who have been doing a great job of sending in pictures!

I attended the Runestone Area Education District Council Meeting on Thursday morning and continue to learn about the operations of the District and how it provides special education and alternative education services to member districts.

Principals Radtke, Johnson, and I met again Friday to review current concerns and future planning. We will be meeting weekly to keep each other updated.

Planning

We will be doing ALICE training on Wednesday, October 19, 2022. Early dismissal for elementary students at 12:30 p.m. and high school students at 12:45 p.m. Training will be provided in both buildings. ALICE Active Shooter Response Training (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) empowers our people to make good survival decisions should an attack occur. 

On Monday Judy Moeller and I will attend the Ottertail County Collaborative Leadership Meeting. The Collaborative works  to meet the needs of children and families throughout Ottertail County.

Evaluate

I met with new elementary teachers Kayla Briggs (Kindergarten), Hunter Haggenmiller (4th Grade), Samantha Runge ( Elementary Physical Education), and Angie Thorfinnson (Speech) this week. In this time of perceived shortage of teachers the District has hired great ones!  One of my best takeaways from these visits was that the new teachers expressed gratitude for the support and collaboration of their colleagues.  Thank you to the teacher mentors and all staff who make the Parkers Prairie School District a great place to work!

Homecoming week has provided great evidence of school spirit by students and staff. I really liked the color day when it was easy to tell what grade students were in. Congratulations to Homecoming Royalty –  Queen Kasd Wehking and King Ryder Ashbaugh. Good luck to the football team tonight!

Peter E. Haapala, Interim Superintendent

“If we create a culture where every teacher (employee) believes they need to improve, not because they are not good enough but because they can be even better, there is no limit to what we can achieve.” —Dylan Wiliam